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enMat Ryan: Asian Cup redemption, bad haircuts and... Liverpool?The Socceroos No. 1 talks to FourFourTwos Zee Ko about club life in Belgium, Asian Cup glory and why his haircut has improved so much...Zee Kohttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/mat-ryan-asian-cup-redemption-bad-haircuts-and-liverpool
Was there a belief before the Asian Cup started that this batch of Socceroos could actually win the whole thing?
The boss at the top, Ange Postecoglou, instills that successful vibe in the team with the motivational talks he gives us. Our goal was clear from the start — we wanted to win this tournament. I’m not sure how many people thought we could achieve that, especially with everyone thinking this was still a new squad finding our rhythm together. It’s one thing to plan a successful campaign like that, but it’s definitely another thing to fulfil it and to accomplish what we set out to achieve. It was such a great feeling come that final whistle of a great tournament.
What is it about Ange Postecoglou that makes him so special? Is he one of the best coaches you’ve worked under?
Definitely. I think it’s that aura around him, his presence. He has such an authoritative coaching style and he epitomises what it means to play for the national team. He’s very big on his motivational speeches before matches in order to get the players up [for the game] by the things he says. It’s the way in which he delivers the final message before we go out. I’ve said time and time again, that everytime I come out of a meeting with the Socceroos and obviously with him taking it, I forget about everything else in the world and all I want to do is give my best performance for my country.
Massimo Luongo was named Asian Cup MVP. How well do you know him? What’s he like in person? Do you think he could dominate the midfield for Australia in years to come?
He’s a really quiet, easy going... (pauses) Actually he’s not quiet! He comes across as a quiet sort, but he’s actually chirpy around the guys. He’s just a friendly, nice guy who’s always up for a conversation. He’ll never do anything wrong by you, never have anything negative to say about anybody. Just a really down-to-earth nice guy. As a young kid, from the age of 12, I started playing against him and all through my juniors. He took off overseas around 16-17. I played against him for many years and we had a number of great battles and to find ourselves together in the Socceroos, it’s a nice little journey for the both of us.
If he keeps progressing the way he is, he can definitely make his mark. To deliver the consistency he did in the Asian Cup is not easy. From now, we obviously want to go and conquer the world and not just Asia, and it’s going to take another lift from everyone within the squad in order to do that. From what Mass showed — the consistency, what he has in his game, what he’s shown in the national team thus far — I think he’s continuing to learn. He’s at Swindon at the moment and I’m sure that he’ll be moving on fairly shortly on to a bigger club, and that can only help his progress also.
You were named the best goalkeeper in the Asian Cup. Do you feel that was an acknowledgement of how far you’ve come in your football career?
To be honest, I didn’t even think about the MVP award. I wasn’t even aware that there were awards. Common sense will tell you that there would be awards like that for a tournament like that but it didn’t even cross my mind.
I’ve always said that I’d take a team achievement over the personal accolades, and I was solely focused on trying to deliver my best performances in order to help the team to win the Asian Cup, which we did. Everything from there is just a bonus, like the number of players that got named in the team of the tournament, and Massimo and I picking up personal awards. Obviously, it’s something I’m going to cherish for a long time — just the whole occasion of the tournament being on Australian soil and the first major trophy I’ve won with the Socceroos in front of my friends and family. I dare say it’s going to be something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
Let’s talk a bit about the low points too. How disappointing was it to crash out after three games at the World Cup, albeit from a tough group?
Our effort in games was there but it just wasn’t meant to be at the end of the day. I guess you could argue that we were a little bit raw as a team together but we didn’t want to make any excuses going into that tournament. We wanted to all give the best that we could. We were confident, with us being the underdogs in that group, of giving some of the teams a run for their money because at the end of the day, it’s only other human beings you’re facing. Eleven Australians against eleven Spaniards.
It was very disappointing results-wise at that time. I think we performed well for the large part of games but we weren’t able to sustain it for as long as we would have liked and it's important moments in football — the little mistakes where you get punished — and at that level we discovered that.
Any personal regrets from the tournament?
We all go out there to try our best and no one ever goes out there to make a mistake but obviously they happen. Obviously, I had that famous… well not that famous, but the clear error against Holland to go behind. The World Cup was the biggest learning curve in my career to date. I’ve never experienced that level before and it was a good little insight for me to see where I’m at in my development and little things that I learnt that can help my game and take it to another level where I can perform better on a more consistent basis. Looking at the opponents we faced at the World Cup, and our recent friendly against Germany, we’re pretty much going up against the pinnacle of the game now. There’s not going to be too many other nations that are better than what we’ve faced now already. We’ve all had a taste of that now and we’re all better for the experience. It’s just going to help us now for future results when we play nations like that again.
Congratulations on your second Goalkeeper of the Year award in the Belgian Pro League. Did you expect to make such a quick transition when moving from the A-League to Belgium?
I’m the kind of personality that wants to play and show what I have to offer. Looking back on it now to see that it’s gone as well as it has, it’s been nice. At the same time, I have high ambitions for myself and I don’t think I’ve surprised myself too much. I’ve just been trying to do the best I can and I’ve been pretty proud of what I’ve done and how consistent I’ve been. I’ve just been enjoying my football and life at the moment.
What was it like when you made your debut for Club Brugge? How different was it to what you were used to?
It always takes some time to adjust to new things like that. My first game against Charleroi I didn’t really have too much to do. I just had a couple of high balls and it was a pretty comfortable game to be honest. It wasn’t till a couple of weeks after where I started to get a bit busier making saves. It started off pretty well in the beginning. I got a couple of man of the match awards in some games we played away. From the get go, I pretty much hit the ground running.
What’s the level like in Belgium? Would you encourage more Australian players to give it a go? Have any of them asked you about the football there?
It’s a nice competition, it’s very physical. The technical aspect is a step up from the Australian A-League which I played in. It’s quite competitive in the way it’s structured and set up with a lot of teams. It’s a competition I really enjoy.
There have been a few who have asked me about coming over here. James Troisi actually asked me about Belgium at the World Cup and then obviously he came across [to Zulte Waregem]. There’s been a couple of other boys who have mentioned it to me too. I think Belgium is definitely similar to Holland, it’s a good step for young Australians to make a leap into Europe. It’s a nice competition to begin your European career.
Looking at photos from your days back in the A-League with the Central Coast Mariners, you seem to have undergone quite a change in hairstyles. Any comment on that?
[Laughs] I guess I’ll put that down to life experience and growing up a little bit. Coming from the Western Suburbs and having a single mum working for my sister and I growing up, it taught me that nothing really comes easy in life. The more I grew up and became a footballer, and started to earn a bit of money myself and started to look after myself a little bit more… I guess that’s just what it’s down to — life experience.
On a more serious note, do you think the A-League has provided a good springboard for young Australian talent lately?
It’s given a lot of young Australian guys the opportunity to get a taste of being a professional footballers. Then there are a lot of coaches like I had in Graham Arnold, they love giving young guys a go. There have been a number of talents who’ve come through the A-League and gone on to Europe as a result. Hopefully, stories like myself, Tommy Oar and Robbie Kruse can pave the way for some more youngsters to make the grade.
Liverpool have been strongly linked with your services, and there were reports that they’d sent scouts to watch you at the Asian Cup. Is such a move of interest to you, whether in the near future or a few years down the road?
Yeah but I’m just trying to focus on being as successful at Club Brugge first. I’m not really worrying too much about the future, I have an agent who looks after all that. Obviously, I want to test myself at the highest level one day, whether that be next season or the season after. It’s hard to say, I can’t tell the future. I’ll just concentrate on taking it one step at a time and hopefully one day I can find myself in a stronger competition than where I am, perhaps one of the top leagues somewhere around the world.
Debate the #FFTASIA50
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featureWed, 13 May 2015 13:36:17 +0000Joe Brewin388196 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comRyan spurred on by Australias 2011 woeMat Ryan still remembers vividly watching from his lounge room as Australia fell just short against Japan in the Asian Cup final in 2011.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/ryan-spurred-australias-2011-heartbreak
He rode every challenge, every shot and felt the pain of defeat when Tadanari Lee's late volley gave the Japanese a 1-0 extra-time win.
Never did Ryan think he could be in that very position but just four years on the in-form gloveman is now between the sticks for Australia and has played a huge part in why they are back in an Asian Cup decider.
South Korea in front of a full house at ANZ Stadium now stand between Australia and redemption.
"It is a bit surreal, sometimes I go to sleep thinking I'm representing my country here in a massive tournament and playing as the number one here…it's mind blowing," Ryan told reporters on Thursday.
"You dream of it as a kid and at my age to be achieving something like that is a great feeling.
"I actually saw the highlights (from 2011) a couple of weeks back when it was on and we had some free time here in camp in the afternoon.
"We had a number of chances that night but for whatever reason it wasn't meant to be. I felt the disappointment for the team but four years down the track now we're back in the final and hopefully we can switch the result from that night."
Ryan, who has been in superb touch the entire tournament conceding just twice, claimed the team's defensive improvement is down to every single player sticking to their job.
But they have one hurdle still to jump on Saturday night before they will consider the job done.
Ryan confirmed he's likely to do some extra vide work in the lead-up to the final, studying South Korea's penalty takers in case a shootout is required.
"We normally do the penalty taking practice the day before the game as we have before every knockout game and we take advantage of technology and study some of the takers from previous games for Korea," he said.
"I'm sure that they know we look at things and whether they alter some things also.
"Hopefully it won't come to that. I have full belief in the squad we'll get the victory in normal time but if it does happen hopefully I can be there at the end of the day. In the moment you just need a bit of luck and hopefully it goes Australia's way."
Ryan's eye-catching performances have not gone unnoticed, with Premier League giants Liverpool reportedly keeping tabs on Australia's number one.
"It's very flattering to have my name involved with a big team like that but my mind is on the job here," Ryan said.
"I've been focusing on the job here and I would love to be lifting the trophy on Saturday. I'm very happy at my club in Belgium, Club Brugge, also and, if it's meant to be, something will happen in the future."
news_articleThu, 29 Jan 2015 03:32:32 +0000Anonymous333042 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comWhy Mat Ryan to Liverpool would be the wrong move for all parties, for now at leastBelgian expert Wim Van Walle explains why the Reds and Ryan are better off focusing their attentions elsewhere...Wim Van Wallehttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/why-mat-ryan-liverpool-would-be-wrong-move-all-parties-now-least
To say that Liverpool aren’t having the best of seasons is a bit of an understatement. Having come so close to that elusive 19th league title, the Reds have been left frustrated this term, seemingly unable to mount anything remotely resembling a challenge.
It's a goalkeeper’s lot that eyes turn his way when things are going wrong, and it's therefore not a huge surprise that Simon Mignolet has been highlighted as a key culprit in the Reds' demise.
The Belgian has been pilloried in the press and on social media, with former Anfield No.1 Bruce Grobbelaar’s scathing attack (in which he slammed the Belgian for being "worse than Dracula" when it came to dealing with crosses) a particular low.
Yet while it's fair to say Mignolet is not enjoying his best form, it seems harsh to label him the club’s main problem.
When Brendan Rodgers dropped Mignolet for Brad Jones, Liverpool conceded five goals in two league games. Since Mignolet's return, the 26-year-old has shipped five in six and kept two clean sheets, making it six for the season. It isn’t entirely ridiculous to say that without Mignolet, Liverpool could be in an even worse state.
But an extra goalkeeper is still high on Rodgers' list of priorities.
With only two goalkeepers on the books and one injured, pulling in another makes a lot of sense. Mignolet has always been his own harshest critic, and an increased fight for his place is certain to get the best out of him.
Since returning against Burnley he seems to be moving back towards his best form, culminating in an authoritative performance against Aston Villa last weekened which was hailed by his manager as 'outstanding'.
Belgium's best
Mathew Ryan, Australia’s No.1, is reportedly one of Liverpool’s main targets. What this proves is that the Reds don’t just want a backup for Mignolet, but a solid second option for the future. It’s logical thinking. Ryan, currently at Club Brugge, is highly rated and, at only 22, a massive prospect for the future. To get him in now would be good business financially, as his value is only likely to rise in the coming years.
Ryan has been outstanding for Club Brugge, both in the Belgian league and Europa League, and was rightly voted Belgium’s best goalkeeper of 2014.
As former Club Brugge sporting director Arnar Gretarson said in October: “I don’t think he will be at the club much longer. He will move to a bigger club, possibly as soon as next year. We know he won’t stay at Club Brugge forever. He has enough quality to play in the Premier League.”
But while Ryan may be too good for Belgium, how much does that really tell us? With all due respect, the Jupiler Pro League is hardly the best place to judge a player.
England's top flight is an enormous step up, and a move to Liverpool would only mean more pressure for Ryan. In the past three years, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne made the move from Belgium directly to a top English club in the form of Chelsea, and both struggled to make their mark.
Lukaku has now found his place at Everton, while De Bruyne joined Wolfsburg after a frustrating time at Stamford Bridge. Both are excellent young players who will only get better, but serve well as an illustration of the gaping void between Belgium’s top division and the Premier League.
Blue is the colour?
If Ryan wants to make the move to England, he'd be better off at a mid-table club where he can really establish himself. Right now he wouldn't keep Mignolet out of the Liverpool line-up.
Hull are also linked, and Everton are said to have been monitoring the Australian for some time. With Tim Howard injured, a move to Liverpool’s arch rivals would almost certainly mean playing time, and given Howard’s age (35), it wouldn’t be implausible for him to establish himself as the Toffees' new No.1 in the foreseeable future; certainly a much better way to build a career than warming the bench at Anfield.
As for Liverpool, if they want an instant fix, they may need to look elsewhere. Much like recalling Divock Origi from Lille won't magically solve their problems up front, signing Ryan won't change much at the back. Like Origi, Ryan is very talented but probably not yet ready to perform at the highest level.
In which case, Liverpool would spend a lot of money on him but still have the same problem. He won’t come cheap, having signed a new deal at Brugge only last November and picking up last season's individual honour in Belgium.
Rodgers would do better helping Mignolet back to his best, finding a backup goalkeeper at a reasonable price and looking for a real replacement for Daniel Agger. Then there's the small matter of finding a new Steven Gerrard in the summer. Over to you, Brendan...
featureWed, 21 Jan 2015 10:45:00 +0000Joe Brewin327787 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comAussie keeper Ryan open to Liverpool switchAustralia goalkeeper Mat Ryan, a reported target of Liverpool, is keen on a move to Anfield - but not until the end of the season.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/ryan-open-liverpool-switch
Liverpool target Mat Ryan will consider his options in the summer but is unlikely to make the move to Anfield in January, according to his agent.
The Merseyside club are thought to have targeted a move for highlyrated Club Brugge goalkeeper as they eye a long-term solution to their goalkeeping problems, with Brendan Rodgers having dropped Simon Mignolet earlier this season.
Rodgers was forced to restore Mignolet to his starting XI in recent weeks after understudy goalkeeper Brad Jones picked up a thigh injury, but a new shot-stopperis a priority for the Anfield outfit.
Ryan, who is away on international duty with Australia at the Asian Cup, has admitted he has been flattered by the reported interest from Liverpool, but the player's representative, Mikkel Beck, insists the 'keeper is set to stay at Brugge until the summer at least.
"I have read the reports that Liverpool are watching Mat, but I am unaware of concrete interest from them," Beck toldGoal.
"Of course it does not surprise me that such big clubs are interested in Mat because he is such an outstanding talent.
"We just re-signed a new contract at Brugge and Mat is very happy there and is part of an ambitious project where he feels he can progress.
"A move is unlikely this month as Mat is away at the Asian Cup and is fully focused on doing well for Australia."
Beck acknowledgedRyan would be interested in a move to the Premier League and will weigh up his future in the summer.
"It is normal that there are rumours surrounding him as he is a top talent," added Beck. "We will sit down in the summer and talk about things and if there is something concrete and something special that comes up we will consider it.
"Playing in the Premier League would be of interest to Mat as it is one of the best leagues in the world and knowing how ambitious Mat is it is the kind of league he would like to play in.
"He is happy at Brugge, but if concrete interest comes we will sit down and have a discussion."
Ryan has caught the eye for club and country over the last 12 months, starting all three games at last year'sWorld Cup in Brazil.
The 22-year-old, who joined Club Brugge from Central Coast Mariners in 2013, has won the Pro League's best goalkeeper of the year award for the last two years in Belgium.
news_articleTue, 20 Jan 2015 01:16:04 +0000Anonymous327339 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comAl Habsi: Keeper Ryan ready for Liverpool moveA former Premier League gloveman reckons Australias number one Mat Ryan could thrive at Anfield after being linked with a move to Liverpool.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/al-habsi-ryan-ready-liverpool
Oman's former Premier League goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi has given Australian shot-stopper Mat Ryan a ringing endorsement to make it in England.
Al Habsi, who played in the Premier League with Wigan and Bolton, has been impressed with Ryan and is adamant he has the talent to make it in England.
According to reports in the British media last week, Ryan is on the radar of English giants Liverpool about the prospect of replacing their current number one Simon Mignolet.
Ryan, 22, is in superb form in Belgium with Club Brugge, taking out the Pro League's best goalkeeper of the year award last week for a second straight year.
"He's brilliant," said Al Habsi, who made more than 100 appearances in the Premier League
"He has been fantastic in the World Cup and here in the Asian Cup."
Al Habsi got a close-up look at Ryan when Australia demolished Oman 4-0 in the group stage of the Asian Cup last week.
Ryan pulled off a stunning save to keep out Raed Saleh's volley after just two minutes before the the host nation went on to record a comfortable win.
The ex-Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper will be crucial to Australia's chances of going all the way in the tournament, with a quarter-final against China to come in Brisbane on Thursday night.
"In the first game and against us he did brilliantly," Al Habsi said.
"He's young, he can only improve and, of course Liverpool is a big club and for him it would be a great chance to make it."
news_articleMon, 19 Jan 2015 02:37:35 +0000Anonymous326815 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comRyan: New Socceroos era is just the beginningMat Ryan said Australia coach Ange Postecoglou wants the team to have more belief in the system they deploy.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/ryan-socceroos-era-just-beginning
Ryan said it will take time to adapt to what Postecoglou wants to enforce, and how the former Melbourne Victory boss demands the team to approach their football as they prepare for Thursday's friendly with Belgium in Liege.
It is Australia's first international appearance since their World Cup campaign, which saw them lose no fans despite a point-less group stage.
Postecoglou has been in the top job since October.
"We had a little review form the World Cup yesterday, just going over different things. [Postecoglou] wants us to have more belief in the system and those sorts of things," Ryan told FFA TV.
"We all tried to buy into it but it's not until you get the regular games where you can make mistakes in terms of learning what he really wants from us in every situation.
"You can't help but think if we had had another 12 months together as a team [before the World Cup] how different things could have been."
Given the way the Socceroos performed at the World Cup, Ryan said he is confident the side will continue to improve the more the youthful squad plays together.
"The progress we’ve been making has been coming in leaps and bounds," the former Central Coast Mariners man said.
Ryan, who played all three matches at the recent FIFA World Cup in Brazil, has been Postecoglou's first-choice goalkeeper.
The 22-year-old has earned that spot, having been in fine form for Club Brugge as he took out the Professional Footballers' Goalkeeper of Year gong in Belgium last season.
But the keeping position is one with a great deal of options for Postecoglou to ponder.
Mitch Langerak is now playing more regularly at Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund while shot-stopper Adam Federici is now first-choice at Reading once more.
A-League stars Eugene Galekovic and Mark Birighitti are also in the mix after being in the original travelling party that went to Brazil.
"There's great competition for every spot in the team at the moment," Ryan said.
"I don't think any position on the team should be safe at any time in one's international career. If you're playing well and you deserve the right to have the spot, that's the way it should go.
"The likes of Mitch [Langerak] and I see Adam Federici is playing more regularly now, it's good for them personally and they get to develop also.
"For myself I just focus on coming in here and trying to work hard. Fingers crossed it can be me out there come game time."
news_articleWed, 03 Sep 2014 01:41:12 +0000Anonymous244497 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comAussie keeper Ryan haunted by Depay goalAustralia goalkeeper Mat Ryan admitted he remains haunted by his performance in a 3-2 loss to Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/ryan-haunted-depays-goal
Ryan entered the tournament as the Belgian Pro League's goalkeeper of the year having won the A-League's equivalent award in the 2011/12 season but the 22-year-old had to endure a tough baptism at World Cup level, conceding three goals per game as Australia were eliminated without a point.
While the expectations on Australia heading into the World Cup were low - following consecutive 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France in late 2013 - Ryan maintained he was disappointed with his showing.
Speaking to Fox Sports in Australia, the Club Brugge gloveman conceded his worst memory from Brazil was letting through Memphis Depay's match-winning goal from outside the box in Porto Alegre.
Australia surprisingly led 2-1 against the Dutch in their second game in Group B when captain Mile Jedinak converted a penalty in the 54th minute.
But Ange Postecoglou's side could not hold on with Robin van Persie equalising four minutes later before Ryan failed to push Depay's relatively tame shot around the post in the 68th minute.
"It's never easy for a goalkeeper to make a mistake and unfortunately in the Netherlands game, the third goal, I was pretty disappointed with my effort," he said.
"It was probably the hardest five days of my life yet.
"It's never good making a mistake, let alone on the world stage in Brazil and at the World Cup, and I felt like I let my country down a little bit."
With such an inexperienced team, it seems harsh to blame Ryan for Australia's three defeats but the statistics do not look good for the young goalkeeper.
According to Opta, of the leading goalkeepers of the eight countries to have finished bottom of their respective groups in Brazil, Ryan conceded the most goals (nine) alongside Cameroon's Charles Itandje, while his save percentage (47.06) was only better than England's Joe Hart (20).
Ryan was far from the most overworked goalkeeper of that group either, having faced 34 shots - less than Honduras' Noel Valladares (47), Itandje (46), Eiji Kawashima of Japan and Iran's Alireza Haghighi (both 43).
The fact remains, however, that Postecoglou's team is a work in progress and have the potential to be much more competitive by the time Russia 2018 rolls around.
Ryan reckons Australia will improve rapidly with the Asian Cup looming at home in January.
"We've still got a lot of hard work in front of us," the former Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper said.
"We have to put together performances for the full 90 minutes, not just match it for 70.
"But the reception we received from the public was overwhelming and we're so proud to hear such great words being spoken of the team."
news_articleFri, 04 Jul 2014 03:58:58 +0000Anonymous206238 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comArnold: Real Madrid chasing goalkeeper RyanSydney FC coach Graham Arnold has claimed young Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan is the subject of interest from Real Madrid.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/arnold-real-madrid-chasing-goalkeeper-ryan
Ryan was an integral part of the Central Coast Mariners team which won the A-League title under Arnold in 2012-13, earning a move to Belgian side Club Brugge in May 2013.
He quickly made the number one shirt his own at the Pro League title contenders and is also in pole position to start for the Socceroos at the FIFA World Cup following the retirement of Mark Schwarzer.
And Arnold has now told the ABC his former charge is impressing one of the world's biggest clubs.
"You look at Maty Ryan," he said when asked how a young Socceroos side will fare in Brazil next month.
"Maty Ryan left here last year. He's gone across to Belgium, he's the best goalkeeper in the league I do believe and I have heard he's getting interest from Real Madrid. He's been doing that well."
It remains to be seen how serious Real Madrid's alleged interest in the 22-year-old shot-stopper is.
Diego Lopez displaced club captain Iker Casillas as their first-choice goalkeeper under Jose Mourinho last season and he has kept his place in La Liga during Carlo Ancelotti's first campaign in charge.
Spain stalwart Casillas, consistently linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu since falling from favour, has played throughout the team's run to the UEFA Champions League final.
Former Numancia keeper Jesus Fernandez is also a member of the senior squad, and has made two first-team appearances since 2011.
news_articleFri, 09 May 2014 01:25:38 +0000Anonymous168877 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comHealthy rivalry the key for Langerak and RyanMitch Langerak and Mat Ryan will not allow their chase to become Australias first-choice goalkeeper get in the way of their friendship.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/healthy-rivalry-key-langerak-and-ryan
Langerak and Ryan have been given first crack at becoming Mark Schwarzer's long-term replacement after being selected in new coach Ange Postecoglou's squad for Tuesday's friendly against Costa Rica in Sydney.
Borussia Dortmund stand-in Langerak arguably has his nose in front after performing admirably against France and Canada, while Ryan (Club Brugge) is banging down the door with his impressive club form in Belgium.
Postecoglou has put all players on notice that their spots are not guaranteed ahead of his first match at the helm, but the battle of the 'keepers is arguably his toughest selection.
"Between me and Mat we're good mates on the field and off the field so it makes it a lot easier when we come into camp," Langerak said at Socceroos training on Thursday.
"It goes without saying that we both want to be playing and both want to be the number one and things like that.
"But there's still a long way to go, it makes no sense to have an unhealthy rivalry.
"It's not going to help the team in the long term and it's not going to help us in the short term either, so it's best that we're good mates and we get on well together and knuckle down and train.
"We can talk as much as we want but ultimately it's up to the boss and what he decides."
Ryan added: "Australia's always been blessed with quality goal keepers and we'd like to think that we can carry on from the benchmark Schwarzy's set.
"Everyone in football knows there's such thing as a goalkeepers' union, we all get on, on and off the pitch, and we just work hard and try and get the best out of one another and at the end of the day hopefully the best man gets the job."
Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide), Adam Federici (Reading) and Brad Jones (Liverpool) are also in the mix ahead of next year's World Cup.
Langerak concedes whoever gets the nod in Brazil faces a massive challenge to replace Schwarzer.
"It goes without saying that Schwarzy's boots are big ones to fill," Langerak said.
"We know what he's done over the last 15 years for the national team and if you look at it from afar it's quite daunting.
"But for us being in the position, we're training every day, we're working, we're at good clubs so we're right on the pace and once we step into the team and into training we fit in well.
"And I'm sure it won't take long until both of us and the other goalkeepers make their stamp on the team."
Ryan added of Schwarzer: "He's obviously been an icon of the game, he's set such a high standard in the goal keeping position now for years to come and both Mitch and I are privileged to be in the initial camp after he announced his retirement and have first opportunity to fill his position."
news_articleThu, 14 Nov 2013 05:36:22 +0000Anonymous83779 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com